Approved Medical Deputising Service (AMDS) Program

This page contains information on the AMDS Program

Page last updated: 28 February 2018

What is an AMDS Program?

The AMDS Program is a mechanism for doctors to obtain clinical experience in the after-hours period. The Program was introduced in 1999 as a response to a decrease in the number of after-hours services being provided by fully qualified GPs in the capital cities. The AMDS Program offers clinical experience to doctors who intend to achieve vocational recognition in general practice and increases the workforce available during the after-hours period.

The AMDS Program is administered by the Department of Health according to administrative guidelines. The below Guidelines set the conditions for accredited medical deputising services and non-vocationally recognised GPs to participate on the AMDS Program from 1 March 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AMDS?

An AMDS is an accredited medical deputising service that holds a Deed of Agreement with Health. The Deed recognised the service as an ‘Approved Medical Deputising Service’ for the purpose of the Program and grants it the right to employ non-vocationally recognised GPs to perform after-hours deputising services under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

An AMDS arranges to perform deputised attendances to patients on behalf of their normal GP. An AMDS can extend the care available to a GP’s patients to cover the entirety of the after-hours period (6pm to 8am Weekdays, from noon on Saturday, and all day on Sunday and public holidays).

An AMDS is expected to meet and maintain minimum standards of conduct that are set out in the Program Guidelines to receive the privilege to employ non-VR GPs with MBS access. This includes adherence to restrictions on direct marketing of services and applying a triaging standard.

What are the medical practitioner eligibility requirements for the AMDS Program?

The Guidelines provide that prospective participants must obtain an assessment of their general practice experience. The following fact sheet explains how this requirement is applied by Health to new participants.

What are the participation rights under the AMDS Program?

The following fact sheet explains the participation rights granted to doctors who participate on the AMDS Program. This fact sheet explores issues relating to deputising for multiple providers and concurrent participation on the AMDS and other general practice programs.